Find out how popular the last name Teller is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Teller.

Teller, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Teller surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Teller in America

Teller is the 8623rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Teller surname appeared 3,814 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Teller.

We can also compare 2010 data for Teller to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Teller

The surname Teller is of German origin and can be traced back to the late Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "Teller," which means "plate" or "dish." The name likely originated as an occupational surname for someone who made or sold plates and dishes.

In its earliest forms, the name appeared as "Tellere" or "Tellir" in various German regions during the 13th and 14th centuries. It is believed to have spread across central and northern Europe as people migrated and settled in new areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Teller can be found in the town records of Nürnberg, Germany, where a certain Hans Teller was mentioned in 1428. Another early reference is found in the church records of Augsburg, where a Johann Teller was baptized in 1491.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various spellings, including "Teller," "Teler," and "Tellar." During this period, the surname was also found in the Netherlands, where it was likely introduced by German immigrants or traders.

Prominent individuals with the surname Teller include:

1. Wilhelm Abraham Teller (1734-1804), a German mathematician and philosopher.
2. Andreas Teller (1792-1868), a German painter known for his landscapes and religious works.
3. Edward Teller (1908-2003), a Hungarian-American theoretical physicist who played a crucial role in the development of the hydrogen bomb.
4. Janne Teller (born 1964), a Danish writer and novelist, best known for her novel "Nothing."
5. Bry'nt Teller (born 1978), an American professional wrestler and actor.

As the surname spread across Europe and eventually to other parts of the world through migration and immigration, it underwent various spelling variations and adaptations based on local languages and traditions. However, its origins can be traced back to the German word "Teller" and its occupational roots in the plate and dish-making trade.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Teller

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Teller.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Teller was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Teller has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Teller was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Teller, please contact us.

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